Gas filtering device



Aug. 27, 1935. R. R. HALSTEAD 2,012,508

GAS FILTERING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 il H i Ric/iard R. HaZJ Zea/,

BY @alga/mu,

Aug.. ZZy 3935. R. R. HALsTEAD y GAS FILTERING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Rcard H.HaZJZead /7//5 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 27, 1935 PAT-ENT OFFICE Gris FILTERINGDEVICE Richard R. Halstead, Beach, N. Dak., assignor to Halstead Corporation, Beach, N. Dak., a corporation of North Dakota Application April 25,1935, serial No. 18,154 s claims. f (ci. iss-9) This invention relates to a gas filtering device.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved gas filtering device which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and efficient in use.

The present invention has for its principal object'the` provision of an improved device for filtering a stream of air or other gas supplied to any device, or machine, such as, for example, to internal combustion engines, air-conditioning apparatus, and the like, Wherever-it may be desired to remove dust and otherforeign particles from a stream of air before passingrthe same into the machine, device, or apparatus to which it is supplied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air or gas filtering device Which is-particularly adapted for filtering the air supply to an internal combustion engine, such an air supply being fre-4 quently heavily laden with dust and-dirt Vand otherV foreign particles picked up from the groundor highway over which the vehicle is traveling.

A further object of the present invention is toi ing provided with an air inlet and an air outlet,

a filtering element in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and a novel device Yarranged between the well and the filtering elementfor effecting an intimate mixture of the inflowing air and foreign particles carried thereby with the filtering liquid from the'well prior to the time the air passes into the filter elementso as to eifect the removal of the greater part of the foreign particles from the air prior to the time the same enters into the filter element.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of construction and in which? Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view illustrating a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, with a part of the guard plate I8 broken away to show the air intake to the filtering device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, showing the rotary liquid or oil spraying device embodied in the invention; i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the mixing cone embodied in the device;

Fig.l 5 is a sectional detail view on line 5-5 in Fig. l; e

, Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational View of the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. '7 and Fig. 9 is a sectional'detail view, on line 9 9 in Fig. 3, showing the recesses or pockets provided in the-vanes or blades of the rotor embodied in the new airlor gas filtering device.

. `A preferred form of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 to -inclusive of the drawings, is therein generally indicated at I0 and comprises a housing or` casing I I whicheis preferably substantially frusto-conical in construction. Arranged in the housing or casing I I is l'a filtering body or cleaning element I 2 which is preferably composed of finely dividedmetal or metallic wool, or metallic ribbon, and this filtering element I2 is retained in position in the housing II by means of retaining screens 4I and 42 (Fig. 1), the screen 4I being retained `in position by means of a ring I3 which has an undercut or rabbeted edge 58 (Fig. 1), for a reason to be explained presently, and the screen 42 beingv retained in position by means of spider43 which extends diametrically across the housing I I and'iis'braced therein by a rod 44.

The housing `or casing Il has an open end I4 and; provided on the casing II adjacent the open end I4 thereof -isanannular fiange I5. Attached to this flange I5 is a closure member or head I6 in which islprovided an air inlet I'I, and attached toythe head I6, adjacentthe air inlet I1, is a guardV plate `I 8. I

Mounted on the Vhead I6, within the air inlet I1, is a series of air-directing vanes or baflie plates I9; and rotatably mounted, as at 20, in the head I6, immediately behind the air-directing vanes or baille plates I9, is a rotary member, or rotor 2|, which includes a series of radially arranged blades 'or vanes 22. vCertain of these blades 22 haveradially outer end portions or scoops 35 and these radially outer lend portions or scoops 35 dip successively, when the rotor 2l is revolved, into a liquid or oil well or basin 23 which is formed in the bottom wall of the head I6, a quantity ofoil or otherisuitable :filtering liquid or medium being kept in the wall or basin'23. Provided on the axially inner surface of each of the blades 22 are countersunk recesses G5, and extending through each of the'blades 22 from the inner ends of the recesses or pockets t5, are openings B.

The oil well or basin 23 communicates, by way of a conduit or tube 25, with the upper area 25 of an oil reservoir or basin 2l and the oil reservoir or basin 2 communicates by way of openings l and 52 which are provided in the bottom of the same, with a sump 28 (Fig. 1).

Leading into the reservoir or basin 28-21 from the housing or casing i i is an inlet or opening 279.

Mounted in the housing or casing Il is a substantially'frusto-conical or funnel-shaped mixing member 3l! which has a flanged portion 3l which is attached to the ange l5 of the casing i I, and provided in the lower wall 4,6 of this funnel or conical shaped mixing member'is an elongated slit or opening 32 (Figs. 1 and 4).

YExtending downwardly from the bottom wall 4l of the housing iiinto the'opening 5! is adrip plate 5d (Figs.l 1 and 5) and (extending upwardlyv YWall 35 (Fig. 1).'

The present air or gas filtering orV cleaning device is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction'with linternal combustion engines, air conditioning apparatus, or the lilge, wherever it may be desired to clean or lter a supply of air or other gas and when the samel is in use air or other gas is drawn, by vacuum or suction, into the inlet Il, through the air-directing variesV or baiiie plates i9, and is effectively directed bythe latterinto engagement with the blades 22 of the rotary spraying member or rotor 2|, thereby causing the latter to revolve, and thusv CauSingthe radially outer end portions or scoops 35- of the blades 22 toV move alternately into. and out ofthe liquid well 23.. `During this movement'of the'rotor 2l the radially outer` end portions or scoops 350i the blades 22 'dipfinto the liquid well23 and thus pick up a quantity ofthe filteringliquid' therein and lift the same vup out of the well 23 into the cone or funnel-shaped member 3Q" wherein the filtering or cleaning liquid thus lifted out of the well 23 comes into' contact with the air passing into the cone 3D from the air inlet' |1`.

As the oil orother cleaning'liquid is lifted up out of the well 23 by the radially outer end por'- tions 35 of the blades 32 some of the cleaning liquid runs by gravity along the blades 22 into the recesses or :pockets 45 Yand during this operation air entering the housing Il yfrom the inlet Il' passes throughthe openings' in ,the blades 22 and thus drivesthe oil or other cleaning liquid out of the recesses orpockets '45, thus tending to atomize the oil.. or other cleaning liquid and driving the same thus finely dividedy into the mixingcone 30. f' M ,i

As, the'thus nely -divided or atomized oil or other cleaning liquid isl sprayed into the'l mixing cone 3i) which provides a relatively large surface for mixing the incoming air andv f oreignpartioles carried thereby with the fcleaning'liquid or oil;` and' during this operation the'neiy divided oil or other cleaningl'iquid and air are-intimately mixed, thus'causing the dustand other foreign particles carried by the incoming air stream to adhere to, and to mix with, the nely divided oil in the mixing cone 3l); whereupon the sedimentbearing liquid mixture thus formed travels down the inclinedlower wallo of the mixing cone 35i and passes through the elongated slot 32 in the latter onto the bottom wall Q7 of the housing l l, whence it passes through the opening 22 in the latter, into the receptacle or basin 25. As the sediment bearing cleaning liquid travels down the lower wall Y46V vof the cone 3B it is prevented by the wall or barrier 55 (Fig. 1) from entering into the well 23 and is thus prevented from polluting the rel- .ativelyclean liquid therein.

As the sediment-bearing mixture passes Vthrough the opening 29 into the basin or receptacle 26, the sediment-bearing and heavier oil or other cleaning liquid engages the drip plate Sil-and is guided by the latter through the opening 5l, which is formed in the bottom wall 53 of the basin 26, into the sump 28, wherein the relative amount of sediment accumulated may be ascertained by viewing the sight opening or Window 48.

Any dust or other foreign particles which are not removed by admixture with the cleaning or ltering liquid sprayed into the mixing cone 35 by the blades 2PZ-35 of the rotor 2i, Y passes through the latter into contact with the nely divided metal orv metallic fwool cleaning element i2V and is therein removed by contact with a-relatively large surface area of a fine lm of oil or other cleaning liquid which passes through the mixing cone Sil, with the incoming air, into contact with the cleaning or filtering element i2; it being understood that the purpose of the cleaning or iltering element l2 is to expose a relatively large surface area to which a lm of oil or other Acleaning fluid may adhere so that particles of dust vand other foreign matten'vvhich arenot removed from the air or gas stream as the latter passes through the mixing cone Si), may Vadhere thereto' and be removed thereby. The thus-washed and filtered air passes out of the filtering or cleaning element l2 into the outlet 33; fromnwhich it may be directed into the air inlet of Van internal combustion engine or to any other machine, device, or apparatus requiring a supply of filtered air or other gas.

AsA the sediment-bearing cleaning oil or other liquid passes through'theoutlet 32 from the mixing cone 3i? it'collects upon the bottom wall lll of theV housing li and eventually passes by way of the opening 29 Vinto the receptacle or basin 26 andthe sediment-bearing'and heavier oil or other cleaning liquid settles into the bottom portion or sump 28 ofthe basin 26, while the relatively lighter and cleaner liquid remains at the top of thev receptacle Vor basin 25 from which it is conducted, by gravity, by the inclined conduit or tube 25 intoA the well 23; it being noted, (Fig. l) that the tube or conduit 25 is inclined slightly upwardly from the horizontal and that it has an open upper end 56 which opens into the basin 26, adjacent the top of the latter, andv that it hasy an open lower end 5l which opens into the well 23. In this manner an 'effective separation is effected between the-relativelyclean liquid, which rises to the t'op of the basin 26, and the sediment-bearing and heavier liquid, which sinks into the sump 28, so that a supply of the relatively clean liquid is at all times supplied to the'well 23, thus assuring that a quantity of the relatively clean iiuid is at all times disposed in the Well 23 for engagement with the scoop portions CII 35 of -therblades 22--35 of `the rotor `2| by'which it is sprayed into the mixing cone 30 into contact with the air passing therethrough; `it being noted that only certain ofthe blades 22--23 are pro vided with the scoops 35 so that when these scoops dip into the well 23 theyscoop up an ex-i cess of oil or other filtering fluid therein and a part of this excess iscaught by the other blades of the rotor and is retained in the recesses or pockets 'i5-5G (Fig. 9) until such'time as the blades` 22--23 which are provided with these pockets or recesses i5-5t come into contact with theair flowing into the housing through the inlet Il, whereupon the inflowing air, passing `through the inlets il to the recesses (Fig. 9) forces the liquid out ofthe recesses or pockets 45 into the mixing cone 33 and 'in so doing atomizes or finely divides the same.

The undercut edge or wall 58 of the retaining ring I3 and the undercut wall 34 of the air outlet 33, together with the position of the air outlet near the top of the housing I I, prevent the cleaning liquid from being sprayed, or passing, throughthe filter element I2, and out through lthe outlet 33, since the mouth or smaller end of the mixing cone 33 and the outlet 33 are disposed out of axial alinement with each other, and any liquid Which may be sprayed out of the mixing cone 33 into the filter body I2 will engage against the inner wall of the casingV II and will be prevented by the undercut edges 58 and 34 from passing into the air outlet `33.

Mounted in the head I5 vis a defiectorrib or plate 24 (Figs. l and`3) Which is inclined downwardly and outwardly so as to prevent the clean-` ing or ltering liquid which is carried up out oi the well 23 by the blades 22-35 of the rotor 2| from being sprayed out cf the head I5 into the air inlet il (right to left, Fig. 1) and thence out of the filtering device itself.

The smaller or axially inner endof the mixing cone 3@ has a jagged peripheral edge 59 (Figs. 1 and 4i) which aids in breaking up the cleaning liquid which passes, in a swirling motion, out of the mixing cone 3Q into the filter element I2 and this jagged edge 59 likewise tends to break up the force or pressure of the incoming stream of air and cleaning liquid as the same passes out of the cone 33 against the spider 43 and retaining screen 42, and this acts as a safety device to reduce the effective pressureof the incoming air stream at any one point on the spider 43 and screen 42; it having been found in this connection that if the cone 3G is provided with a relatively straight or smooth inner end the pressure of the infiowing air stream on the screen 42 and lter body i2 becomes so great that it tends to dislodge the filter body i2 from its proper' position.

The guard plate I8 prevents a direct flow of air into the inlet Il, and thereby minimizes the amount of foreign matter which may be carried into the casing ii by way of the inlet I'I, and at the same time this plate i8 tends to induce a natural draft or air vacuum through the inlet I'I so as to operate the rotor 2I-22-35.

Thescreens 4i and 42 act to retain the filter body I2 in position and the screen 42 coacts with the spider t3 and with the retaining rod M to retain the iilter element I2 in the casing i! `and against displacement therefrom by back pressure through the outlet 33, which is apt to occur when the device is associated with high pressure gas apparatus, such .as an internal coinbustion engine, wherein the back fire of the engine acting through the outlet 33 would have atendencyto dislodge the filter body I2 from its proper place if it were not for the retaining screens 4I and 42 and the rod 44.

The sump portion 28 of the basin 26 may be removed, whenvdesiredfso` as to, empty out the sediment-bearing cleaning liquid therein by re-` moving the bolts i9 by which the sump 23 is attached to thebasinZS.

Y A modified form of the invention in Figs. 7 and 8, is therein lgenerally indicated at 3l, and this form` of the invention is substantially similar in construction to the form of the invention shown inA Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, except that this modified form of invention is particularly adapted for use in aut-ornative vehicles and other places Where the air or other gas supplied to the filtering device `must be fed to it by means of a conduit or tube, such as 33; and to this end the air inlet to the filter 3l is provided by a head 39 through which air or other gasmay be directed from the conduit' or tube 33 into the casing or housing i3 of the filter 3l'. This form of the invention also employs a different form of receptacle or sump for the sediment-bearing cleaning fluid and the latter has the form of a bowl iii) which may be detachably attached, in any suitable manner, to the basin 6i which is arranged at the bottom of the casing Ml.

Otherwise the modified form of the inven-V invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without .departing from the spirit of the invention. Ltherefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise'details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A gas filtering device, comprising the combination of: a housing including a well adapted to contain a quantity of ltering liquid andA said housing having an air inlet and air outlet disposed above the level of said well; a substantially frusto-conical member in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially frusto-conical member having open ends and having its larger open endv directed toward said outlet; a body of relatively finely divided metallic ribbon inthe said housing between said substantially frusto-conic'al member and said outlet; and a rotatable member in said housing between said inlet and said substantially frustoconical member and including blades or vanes having radially outer end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to scoop or convey a quantity of filtering liquid from said well into said substantially frustoconical member so as to mix the same intimately thereinwith a stream of air or other gas and foreign particles carried thereby passing through saidsubstantially frusto-conical member from said inlet to said outlet. f

2,. A gas filtering device, comprising the combination of a housing including a WellV adapted to contain a quantity of filtering liquid and said housing having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed above the level of said well; a substantially frusto-conical member in said housing between said inlet andisaid outlet; said substantially frusto-conical member having Vopen ends and having itslarger open end directed toward said inlet and having its smaller open end directed toward said outlet; a body of relatively nely divided metallic ribbon in the said hous-.

ing between said substantially frusto-conical member and said outlet; and a rotatable member` in said housing between said inlet and said substantially frusto-conical member and including blades or vanes having radially outer end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to scoop or convey a quantity of filtering liquid from said well into said substantially frusto-conical member so as to mix the same intimately therein with a stream of air or other gas and foreign particles carried thereby passing through said substantially frusto-conicalt member from said inlet to said outlet; the said radially outer end portions of said blades or vanes having recesses or pockets formed therein on their axially inner sides and having openings extending therethrough from the inner ends of said recesses or pockets to the axially outer sides of said blades.

3. A gas ltering device, comprising the combination of a housing including a well adapted to contain a quantity of va liltering liquid and said housing having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed above the level of said well; a substantially frusto-conical member in `said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially truste-conical member having open ends and having its smaller open end directed toward said outlet; a body of relatively finely divided metallic ribbon in the said housing be-A tween said substantially frusto-conical member and said outlet; and afrotatable member in said housing between saidinlet and including blades or. vanes having radially outer end portions or.I

scoopsl movable intoand out of said vwell and adapted to scoop or convey Ya quantity ofilter` ing liquid from said Well into said substantially truste-conical member so as to mix the same intimately therein with a stream of air or other gasand foreign particlescarried thereby passingthrough said substantially frusto-conical member from `said inlet to said outlet; said outlet being disposed above and out of axial alignment with said substantially frusto-conical member.

4. A gas filtering device, comprising the combination of: a housing including a Well adapted to containa quantity of filtering liquid and said housing having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed above the level of said well; a substantially frusto-conical member in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially frusto-conical member having open ends and having its larger open end directed toward said outlet; albody of a relatively finely divided metallic ribbon in the said housing between said substantially frusto-conical ,-fmiembier and said outlet; a rotatable member in said housing between said inlet and said substantially frustoconical member and including blades or vanes having radially outer end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to scoop or convey a quantity of ltering liquid from said well into said substantially frusto-conical member so asto mix the same intimately therein with a stream of air or other gas and foreign particles carried thereby passing through said substantially frusto-conical member from said inlet to said outlet; and a basin or receptacle arranged at the bottom of said housing and said-basin having communication with said `sub- 1 stant'ially frusto-conical member by wayof said housing so as to receive sediment-bearing liquid therefrom.

5. A gas iiltering device, comprising the combination of: a housing including a well adapted to contain a quantity of Iiltering liquid having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed above` the level of said well; a substatially frusto-conicalmember in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially frusto-conical member having open ends and having its larger open end directed toward said inlet and having its smaller open end directed toward said outlet; a body of a relatively finely divided metallic ribbon in the said housing between said substantially truste-conical member and said outlet; a rotatable member in said housing between said inlet and said substantially irusto-conical member and including blades or vanes having radially outer-end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to convey or scoop a quantity of ltering liquid from said well into said substantially frusto-conical member so as to mix the same intimately therein with a stream of air or other gas and foreign particles carried thereby passing through said substantially frusto-coni'cal member from said inlet to said outlet; a basin or receptacle arranged at the bottom'of said housing and said basin having communication with said substantially frusto-conical member by way of said housing so as to receive sediment-bearing liquid therefrom; and a conduit in said basin or receptacle providing communication between the upper area of said basin or receptacle and said well so as to conduct the relatively cleaner and lighter filtering liquid from the upper area ofsaid basin or receptacle into said well.

6. A gas filtering device, comprising the combination of a housing including a well adapted to contain a quantity of filtering liquid and said housing having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed above the level ofsaid well; a substantially frusto-conical member in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially frusto-conical member having open ends and having its larger open end directed toward said inlet and having its smaller open end directed toward said outlet; a body of ltering material in the said housing between said substantially frustoconical member and said outlet; a rotatable member in said housing between said inlet and said substantially truste-conical member lincluding blades or vanes having radially outer end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to scoop or convey a quantity of liquid from said well into said substantially frustoconical member so as to mix the same intimately therein with a stream of air or other gas and foreignparticles carried thereby passing through said substantially frusto-conical member from said inlet to said outlet; and a plurality of vanes in said inlet for directing air or other gas owing through said inlet against the blades or said rotatable member so as to rotate the latter.

7. ,A gas filtering device, comprising the combination of a housing including a well adapted to contain a quantity of liltering liquid and said housing having an air inlet and an air outlet disposedabovethe level of said well; a .substantially frusto-conical member in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially truste-conical member having open ends and having its larger open end directed toward said inlet and having its smaller open end directed toward said outlet; a body of filtering material in the said housing between said substantially frusto-conical member and said outlet; and a rotatable member in said housing between said inlet and said substantially frusto-conical member and including blades or vanes having radially outer end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to scoop or convey a quantity of liquid from said well into said substantially frusto-conical member so as to mix the same intimately therein with a stream of air or other gas and foreign particles carried thereby passing through said substantially frusta-conical member from said inlet to said outlet; said substantially frusto-conical member having a jagged marginal edge portion defining its said smaller open end.

8. A gas ltering device, comprising the combination of a housing including a well adapted to contain a quantity of filtering liquid and said housing having an air inlet and an air outlet disposed above the level of said well; a substantially frusto-conical member in said housing between said inlet and said outlet; said substantially truste-conical member having open ends and having its larger open end directed toward said inlet and having its smaller open end directed toward said outlet; a body of filtering material in the said housing between said substantially frusto-conical member and said outlet; a rotatable member in said housing between said inlet and said substantially frusto-conioal member and including blades or vanes having radially outer end portions or scoops movable into and out of said well and adapted to scoop or convey a quantity of liquid from said well into said substantially frusto-conioal member so as tomix the same in timately therein with a stream of air or other gas and foreign particles carried thereby passing through said substantially frusto-conical member from said inlet to said outlet; said substantially rusto-conical member including a lower wall having an opening formed therein adapted to enable sediment-bearing ltering liquid to pass therethrough by gravity onto the bottom of said housing; and a basin or receptacle at the bottom of said housing and having communication therewith for receiving the sediment-bearing filtering liquid which passes through the said opening in the lower wall of said substantially frusto-conical member.

RICHARD R. HALSTEAD. 

